Effects of long-term sildenafil treatment for pulmonary hypertension in infants with chronic lung disease.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the clinical course and outcomes of infants with chronic lung disease (CLD) and pulmonary hypertension (PH) who received prolonged sildenafil therapy.


METHODS
We conducted a retrospective review of 25 patients <2 years of age with CLD in whom sildenafil was initiated for the treatment of PH while they were hospitalized from January 2004 to October 2007. Hemodynamic improvement was defined by a 20% decrease in the ratio of pulmonary to systemic systolic arterial pressure or improvement in the degree of ventricular septal flattening with serial echocardiograms.


RESULTS
Chronic sildenafil therapy (dose range, 1.5-8.0 mg/kg/d) was initiated at a median of 171 days of age (range, 14-673 days of age) for a median duration of 241 days (range, 28-950 days). Twenty-two patients (88%) achieved hemodynamic improvement after a median treatment duration of 40 days (range, 6-600 days). Eleven of the 13 patients with interval estimates of systolic pulmonary artery pressure with echocardiogram showed clinically significant reductions in PH. Five patients (20%) died during the follow-up period. Adverse events leading to cessation or interruption of therapy occurred in 2 patients, 1 for recurrent erections, and the other had the medication held briefly because of intestinal pneumatosis.


CONCLUSIONS
These data suggest that chronic sildenafil therapy is well-tolerated, safe, and effective for infants with PH and CLD.
Mourani
Peter M
PM
Division of Critical Care, The Children's Hospital and University of Colorado Denver, School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA.
Sontag
Marci K
MK
Ivy
D Dunbar
DD
Abman
Steven H
SH
D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D001997:Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia / Q000150:complications*; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D065630:Hernias, Diaphragmatic, Congenital; D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology*; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D008297:Male; D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D010879:Piperazines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000187:drug effects; D011687:Purines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D000068677:Sildenafil Citrate; D013450:Sulfones / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors; D010879:Piperazines; D011687:Purines; D013450:Sulfones; D000068677:Sildenafil Citrate